My boyfriend is from Japan and he recommended this for date night after hearing about it from other Japanese locals. It did not disappoint. We used to be exclusively Ariake stans but this place takes the cake. As soon as we walked in I felt like I was transported to Japan. The smells, the decor, the low-key-ness. We ordered the maguro with mountain yam, tempura, a bunch of nigiri, and one roll. The tempura is as it should be (and it's so hard to see it done right here in the states). Crispy and light. We liked it so much we ordered another plate. They also give Japanese sized portions (not American) so it's easy to eat as a light appetizer. The nigiri was the star of the show. We ordered our favorite pieces a la carte (there were a few fish that weren't available like kanpachi and chutoro so we changed it for other pieces). The fish to rice ratio is INSANE. Super thick cuts and perfectly formed nigiri. I also loved the fact that the chef torches the eel in our tobiko eel avocado roll. Gave it an extra depth of flavor. Also we keep forgetting but we can ask for our salmon nigiri to be torched! Will definitely do that next time. I love the hole-in-wall vibe and the fact that it's like a family run restaurant. The wife and husband were speaking Japanese to each other and my boyfriend felt like he was back home. Can't recommend enough! Pro-tip hit up the froyo shop next door for dessert. read more

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Came here for dinner because we were craving sushi. I love the ambience and atmosphere of the restaurant. The menu had many options, but we were strictly there for sushi. The sushi was incredibly tasty and fresh. You also get served soup and salad, which was very nice and the server was very friendly. I would definitely come back again and try their other menu options. read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Not fancy, but well loved and authentic Japanese. They don't advertise and seems quiet on outside but always busy. We have liked everything we tried from sushi, tempuras, udon, and katsu. Have never tried the ramen but we probably should give it a shot to see how it is. read more

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me and my husband went for a dinner and place was packed! luckily we had a reservation so it wasn't bad for us, but definitely make resv if you're going for at busy time. Place is very small and cozy authentic japanese vibe. food wise, we really love the sushi and sashimi, chefs and servers was japanese and they're super nice! we'd love to come back here again! read more

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Blue Ocean has been my family's go-to spot for authentic Japanese cuisine for YEARS. The staff are all very friendly and accommodating and the interior is very cozy. It can get somewhat pricey, but it's worth it for the sheer variety of authentic Japanese dishes they offer. read more

The service there was amazing and the lady's were sooo nice. After ordering we received out food pretty quickly even though it seemed pretty crowded in there. We ordered a variety of sushi and nigiri combos which all tasted pretty fresh. I really like the yellowtail nigiri's they had. Everything was nice and soft. read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Just discovered this Japanese owned and operated sushi restaurant in Fairfax. I came on a Friday evening with a large group of friends. If you are planning on coming with a big group; i highly recommend reserving the private rooms in the back area. Staff was very friendly and was conversing with our group throughout the night. Super attentive and great customer service. We ordered an array of sashimi and nigiri and everything tasted so fresh! The toro just melts in your mouth especially. This place also gives REAL fresh wasabi... not the typical stuff that comes in a tube. It tasted slightly mild at first with a burst at the end. I really enjoyed trying real wasabi for the first time. I am happy i tried out this place and looking forward to coming back! read more

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We got one of the platters for takeout, and some of it was not worth as some rolls were just avocado and I wanted more variety. It was good for what it was, but I definitely wanted to try other things. Service was on time. read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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My favorite Japanese restaurant in town! I keep coming back because the sushi quality is one of the best! I recommended Blue Ocean to my friends too and they all loved it! I like ordering Teishoku with some fish as this is something hard to find in other Japanese restaurants. The service is always good. I recommend making reservations in advance especially on the weekends as there are limited seatings. read more

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Two Haiku Review: I'm a big eater And I was full after the Chef Special. Good price And selection for The nigiri. They serve real, Legit wasabi! read more

I came here with my partner and we got the chef's special sushi, kamonamban(duck curry udon), and clam miso soup. The sushi was pretty good for the price, but I would not recommend the duck curry udon. I felt it was lacking in flavor. The miso soup was also alright, but I probably wouldn't get it again. The dinner rush had just started after we got there so service was a little slow. We were sitting in the corner so I think they might've forgotten about us sometimes and we had to ask for water. I think I might've gone on an off day because I have friends who love this place. I might come back to try it again but I wouldn't go out of my way. read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Duck curry udon and clam miso soup - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I love how fresh and good the quality of fish is at Blue Ocean. This quaint spot in Fair City Mall is one of my favorite spots, especially for the lunch set. It comes with so much food! I especially love the salmon!! The service is quick, and they do a good job keeping the tables clean and service running. read more

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Blue Ocean was one of our favorite Japanese places in NOVA and I enjoyed the katsudon there it was so good. read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Katsu Don - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Their menu is vast! Food is incredible! If you want authentic Japanese food outside of Sushi and also affordable, it's the go-to place. Enjoy it so much having dinner there. Try Bento and steam egg pleaaaaaase. Service is good! read more

I did like this place from 15 years, but now it is very different. First, when did tip became a NATION LAW, that you need to pay 20% or more? Our short hair waitress with mix gray hair told me to pay for the tip before split pay. Soooooo RUDE !! Do you think tip is a must ? NO ! Very disappointing. read more

Great food, attentive service. Ordered okonomiyaki, which we had enjoyed in Japan in 2025. We reserved 4 okonomiyaki dinners a day in advance for friends who had never had it. Great dish, expertly prepared--our friends loved it (we did, too)! read more

Love that this Fairfax staple has been thriving all these years! I remember coming here growing up and recently came back for a family year after over a decade. We all got different sushi orders and everyone enjoyed their meal. The fish was fresh and well presented. I ordered one of the chirashis and loved it, it was the perfect amount and mix of various pieces. I won't let another decade roll by without returning! read more

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Super affordable and quality sushi! Menu has a ton of variety, including many vegetarian options. The waitress was friendly and helpful. The establishment is pretty small, so either make a reservation or expect a small wait. read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Sweet potato roll, shrimp tempura roll (right) - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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We went in for lunch on this cold January afternoon for lunch. We ordered the chirashi and an uni sushi which was a special with two hot green teas. The chirashi was good, but there are better options with more variety at other places. Half way through lunch, I was out of tea. Our server was busy so and others just walked by and didn't check on us. Other places in the area at least walk over with more tea or ask. Araki Sushi is great at making sure tea is hot and filled. So as I was paying the bill, I asked for a refill before we went out in the cold. That's when we were told it would be $2 for a cup, the first cup is free. I was told that the organic green tea prices went up so that's why it would be $2 per cup for a refill. I get it, prices have gone up everywhere but why ignore us until the end when our cups were empty and at the edge of the table (hint to staff). Poor handling and customer service. We won't be back and I hate to give bad reviews for small independent places but this could have been handled so much better by staff. Service by staff needs a revamp. read more

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Absolutely fantastic meal! We had sushi, the grilled pork appetizer, miso cod, teriyaki beef, and soup. The staff is wonderful. This is our new go to place in Vienna-Fairfax! Delicious!! read more

Blue Ocean is our favorite Japanese restaurant in Northern Virginia. The chefs have been there for over 30 years and their food is authentic. Ambience - It is a small izakaya-like restaurant in Pickett road. The interior looks dated but it feels cozy. Service - Most of the servers are Koreans or Japanese who speak basic English. They work very efficiently as the lunch/dinner rush hour draws in crowds. I'd highly recommend making reservations to secure a table. Food - The menu is big. They do suhi/sashimi, ramen, chirashi, curry etc I never get bored of this place as there are so many options. Highly recommend this place if you are looking for comfy and delicious Japanese food! read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Japanese owned and operated. My family has been going here for years. Quality is always great. Lots of options for sushi and non-sushi lovers! Service can sometimes get backed up when very busy. They have a private area in the back for semi-large groups. Recommend a reservation for that. read more

The fish was super fresh and very good cuts. I really liked the chefs special and the toro don was a special for $22! The only complaint is service is a bit slow but worth the wait if you have time! read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Quaint unassuming japanese haunt that serves affordable Japanese food. The blue ocean ramen is to die for - its broth is a well balanced concoction of the flavors of the sea. Tofu was alright, it could do better with a little less sauce. I had to rescue those drowning lil puffs from their saucy fate. (Their sumo tea cups are really cute too) read more

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I don't even know where to begin...I don't like writing bad reviews but I agree with all the other 1 stars. I never thought a restaurant could be this terrible. Service, food quality and my overall experience was frustrating. We did takeout, but when we tried to order over the phone, the lady kept interrupting us and wouldn't let us finish our order. She also just gave a random 1 hr wait time without even knowing our full order. So when we picked up the food, it couldve been done earlier and sitting out for awhile. Also, the menu was confusing in itself - what's listed on the menu isnt even what they call it. We say one thing and she says another. I think more descriptive food item names (theres many dishes just labeled "salmon") or a numbering system would be beneficial for orders over the phone, since we can't just point to the item like if we were to go in person. Ordering over the phone was unnecessarily confusing for her and us. When we went to pick up the food, my brother was not acknowledged by anyone even though all of the employees saw and made eye contact with him. He stood at the entrance for awhile until one of the waitresses came. Even picking up the food took awhile because they seem to just not care about customers and are not organized. Everything is slow and it seems like they want customers to go away. The food itself is not worth the money. I tend to overlook bad service if the food is delicious, but this was not the case. Food was overpriced for the poor quality. These were some of the most poorly made nigiri/rolls I have ever seen, and I thought this was an authentic Japanese restaurant. The cuts of fish were irregular and the rice kept falling apart. It was dirty, too - there was a bunch of black/brown dots of gunk stuck to the fish and the rice. I had to scrape off the gunk and what looked like cloth threads from the sushi. I even saw an eyelash on one of my nigiris. This place seems unsanitary and they don't place any care into what they do or make. Some of the maki rolls were just sad - one of them barely had fish in it and it was crushed. There's better sushi for better prices elsewhere in Northern VA. This place is a huge disappointment. Save your time, energy and money and skip this one! read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Salmon sushi dinner - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I was craving sushi and decided to try out blue ocean located in Fairfax. The menu had a large selection of foods from sushi to ramen and traditional Japanese dishes. Their miso soup tasted fresh. And service was kind and welcoming. However, I would not recommend the sushi here. The fish tasted low quality and the portions were pretty small. I was disappointed that their "spicy sushi" was just adding Sriracha on top of regular sushi, it did not go well with the sushi and ruin the taste. For the price of the sushi ($6) I was expecting better quality. The Philly roll was just impossible to eat, the cream cheese was so thick and hard making the texture difficult to eat. The only enjoyable roll I had for this meal was the crunchy salmon roll. read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Spicy salmon, spicy tuna, spicy tempura, spicy Philadelphia - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Came here with a group of friends during a Sun lunch. A native Japanese person recommend this place to me for its authenticity. The folks running and serving the place are indeed Japanese people. I got the tonkatsu ramen since I am allergic to fish and I have to say it was very disappointing. The single piece of pork was overcooked and the half boiled egg was flavorless. They didn't bother to either season the egg or soak it in the broth long enough. Noodles were clearly pre-bought and not made fresh. Broth was a little better but on the salty side. Very light on anything else included in this noodle soup. No naruto (fish cake). Also since it is already a soup, they don't give you the miso soup as an appetizer. Just the salad. I've definitely had better at non-Japanese owned places. Some of my friends got the lunch boxes that came with teriyaki salmon, tempura, sushi, california roll, and slices of oranges. Tempura looked good and they were happy with the sushi. Some of my other friends got sushi on their own or the chirashi. Both of which they liked. The plating looked pretty good as well. So this establishment is best for their sushi. Service is also where this place is lacking. I agree with the lower reviews here in that regard. Albeit we came during a relatively busy time, but the waitress was pretty non-attentive. She came out and brought us the appetizer salads without any utensils to eat it with. After serving us the main course, she never appeared again. Had to flag her down to get the checks. Interior is pretty dark, not particular clean looking especially for Japanese standard. The restaurant appears small inside but there is actually a few larger tables tucked away in the back for larger parties. Also, as an FYI there is 20% automatic gratuity charge for parties greater than 5. Pricing is reasonable though. Long story short, stick with their sushi and tempura. Don't expect great service. read more

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MAKE A RESERVATION IF YOU ARE TO COME HERE DURING WEEKEND DINNER RUSH. My partner and I decided to try this place out on a Saturday evening but didn't realize that they recommended doing a reservation here. Luckily there were 2 spots at the bar, so we were able to be seated there. Service overall was friendly, but they get slammed with demands on orders, takeout, and other factors. It did take us about 15-20 minutes to get our order taken, but when we were seated, we were given menus very quickly and our water. After our orders were taken, all the food was delivered to our seats at a very reasonable time. The sushi chefs were Japanese and I believe all the waitresses were Japanese as well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ What we ordered: - Shrimp Tempura (4 pieces) - Age (Dashi) Tofu - Yakitori (2 pieces) - Seaweed Salad - Chef's Special Sushi (salmon roll choice) - Kitsune Soba (sweet fried bean curd) Complimentary with orders: - Miso Soup - House Salad ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The shrimp tempura was light and crispy, a delicious appetizer. Same with the age dashi tofu! The dashi broth made it super delicious and not too salty. Lots of umami. The yakitori was tender, but it wasn't anything special. It was still overall tasty. My partner really enjoyed his seaweed salad and destroyed it. The miso soup was very delicious and the house salad had a sesame ginger sauce (was very refreshing). The Chef's Special Sushi comes out on a sushi boat and my partner basically inhaled all the sushi. I was able to try a few pieces before he vacuumed up all the sushi though (my favorite bites were the eel and the salmon roll). The Soba itself took a bit longer to come out, but was very refreshing. I enjoyed the taste of the broth (it was very light) but I felt that the amount of seaweed made it a bit too contrasted in terms of texture and flavor (if eaten together with the soba). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'd definitely come back and try the appetizers and the sushi again, but would opt to try another dish that wasn't that specific soba. I have heard good things about the ramen and their kaiseki, so I'd definitely make a reservation in advance to check those out! They also had a lot of people popping in for to-go orders, so I'm glad to see that their food holds well with takeout. read more

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This little gem should not be missed! Very friendly staff, fresh delicious sushi and great atmo!

Those waitresses were rude and loud. They were more attentive to customers other than Asian. The food portions were smaller too.

I came to Blue Ocean based on a recommendation from my wife's Japanese American Society of DC. I checked the mixed reviews and decided to arrive early because they are known for getting busy in this small establishment. The wife and I arrived on Saturday about 1/2 hour after opening and sat at a table for four with pleasant music in the background. We placed our order and our food came out timely. Our main dishes of Soba (in a plastic bowl) and black cod marinated in a mixture of miso were good, although the Soba was warm, not hot as my wife prefers. The sushi was mediocre, thinly cut, and minced fish in the rice. Our tea ran out and we asked the waitress for a refill but she never approached the table so I had to flag her down. She told me that she couldn't refill because it would be extra cost, I told her that wouldn't be a problem but we are accustomed to drinking tea after our meal. She told me she couldn't bring me more tea because she needed the table, so I asked for the bill. After a few minutes, she returned and apologized. She asked us to move to the bar and brought us tea as I paid the bill and we promptly departed not feeling so good about the experience. read more

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A Japanese friend recommended this spot and it definitely did not disappoint. Japanese owned and operated. I knew this place was going to be good when I arrived for Saturday around noon and the place was packed. Everything from the appetizers, nigiri and Japanese entrees were on point. My friends and I loved the fatty salmon belly, ikura, uni, chutoro and yellowtail nigiri. The fish was buttery and at a premium price the uni and salmon belly were so worth it. The fish was so fresh and yummy we had to order a 2nd round. The tekka tuna don, katsu don hokke shioyaki teishoku and the katsu curry were delicious entrees. The flavors of the cooked fish and pork were on point. They give you a fair amount of fish and food quantity overall here. We each spent over $50, but definitely felt stuffed and got our value. This is a great place to bring the family to enjoy some quality Japanese food. The servers were great in knowing the speciality items and freshest cuts. You get a great deal here considering the size of the fish and price for some of the cuts like chutoro. read more

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Would give 3.5 if I could. Unassuming location in a strip mall in Fairfax - inside is in desperate need of a renovation. I don't mind a restaurant being "lived in" but this place feels seriously worn down. Laminated pictures of food with prices adorn every inch of the walls and the rusty old refrigerator out in plain sight create a less than ideal atmosphere. Service was hit or miss depending on the server. They had 4 servers for dinner last night. One was friendly and attentive, two were always in a hurry and I would say average at their job and the last one was fairly rude. If you're aggressive you'll get what you need, but being passive will get you a table with no food. Now the food. We read that this was a great Japanese restaurant and were looking forward to trying kaiseki but much to our dismay they require a week's notice in advance if you want kaiseki. Much of the other authentic Japanese dishes require advanced notice as well (it would be nice if they posted this on their website). So we flipped through the multiple pages of their 3 separate menus (excessive) and decided on sushi. We ordered a small bottle of sake and they started us out with complimentary miso soup and a salad with sesame ginger dressing, which is always a nice touch. My wife got 3 rolls and I got the chef's selection sushi. The fish was pretty good but nothing to write home about. The pieces were a bit small and the rice was coming apart on some of the pieces but overall it was fresh and mostly tasty. The one piece of tuna was very sinewy and hard to chew but everything else was good. We were both still hungry so my wife ordered a wonton soup which she loved at first but a few bites in, she felt the broth was over concentrated and too salty. I ordered one piece of uni and one piece of chu toro. The uni was a bit bitter but the chu toro was the best piece of fish the whole night - tender, flavorful, fresh, and delicious. After tip the total was $125. We were both pleasantly full and felt the prices were reasonable. We probably wouldn't return for sushi just because there are so many better options out there, but we might make an advanced reservation to try the traditional Japanese dishes that they are apparently known for. read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Chef's selection Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Blue Ocean is one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants you will find in NOVA! It's a small Japanese family owned restaurant that serves delicious traditional Japanese dishes and cuisine. Their sushi is really fresh, with a great portion for the price. They have a menu board of specials that is entirely in Japanese, and a majority of the staff speak the language fluently as well, which is a big plus for family or friends visiting from Japan. They also have a wide array of dishes and a separate menu for traditional Japanese drinking snacks. After visiting several times, my favorite has got to be the katsudon, shrimp tempura, and salmon teriyaki. Each order is also served with a complimentary miso soup and salad. I haven't tried any of their sake or desserts yet, but it will be on my to do list. The service is pretty good given the amount of staff working. The ladies are all super nice and our server Andrew really took care of us while giving us great recommendations and explanations of the menu. read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Salmon Teriyaki and Katsu Don Miso Soup - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Attempted for almost an hour to call in for a pickup order. The phone line is either busy or no one picks up. Nowhere to order online. Unheard of. Guess they don't want business. read more

Blue Ocean Japanese restaurant used to be my go to restaurant but not anymore after today's lunch visit. We ordered lunch B box and C box and Philly rolls, surprisingly the portions are pretty small and the tempura was oily. When we asked to refill the hot tea, the waitress said refill tea cost $2 per cup, do you want it? I thought it was very ridiculous, their food is average and the customer service even worse. This might be the last time I will eat there. read more

This place has been around forever with that in mind the place is needing a renovation for a fresh and uncluttered look, however part of the appeal of this place is it's homey and comfortable like the food they serve. Food is ok not mind blowing. It's great for solo quick lunches nothing fancy. Service can be better. They take your order, set down your food and later your bill nothing in between. Maybe coz they work short? Am not sure but service can be better. read more

여기는 사시미 만 맛있다. 일본분들이 주인이고 종업원이여서, 일본말들을 들을수있음. 사시미에비해 라멘과 규동은 맛이 심심했음... 조금 아쉽. 하지만 사시미는 존맛탱! 담엔 배띄우고 먹을거다 read more

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This place is cute and has a nice atmosphere. The food is ok, a bit pricy for what it is in my opinion. One time I went and they had seats at the bar available, even tables but they said there were no more seats left. I guess they wanted to save those for people who could fill the tables of two fully. It kind of turned me off of the place, I haven't been back... read more

Blue Ocean Japanese Restaurant - Spicy Tofu Teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Great cheap sushi restaurant in a largely overpriced area. Try the tempura sweet potato and the sweet and sour (eel and plum) rolls!!!